Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!
Before we launch into our hopes for 2021, we want to say that we’re heartbroken for all who have lost loved ones to COVID19. Like everyone in the world, our board members, advisers, collaborators, and steadfast supporters have been affected by the pandemic. Our hearts are with you as we enter the new year.
Here's a good place to offer special congratulations to Sophia Hayner from Colorado Mesa University’s Veteran's Service Office! Sophia received the Colorado State Office of Suicide Prevention’s Rockstar Partner Spotlight spot in the December 2020 news blast.
Our alliance has grown much faster than we thought would happen just 16 months ago. Here’s what’s been happening with us! And please check out our new branding page which features recommendations on hopeful messaging for media, websites, and printed material.
legislative activism
Our alliance has been blessed with an outpouring of good will during the year. We have gotten to help with the Suicide Survivor Protection Act, legislation spearheaded by Colorado State Representative Janice Rich and cosponsored with Representative Lindsay Daughtery. The Colorado State Senate sponsors are Senator Don Coram and Senator Kerry Donovan.
This effort grew out of a nonpartisan working group inspired and guided by the West Slope Youth Vote.
AAS Membership!
Dr. Melissa Brown, from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gifted us with a business membership to the American Association of Suicidolgy!
Because of her amazing support, Erica Kitzman was able to present Postvention Alliance’s mission, vision, and current projects to the AAS Public Health Committee.
There’s just no way to describe Melissa’s contribution to serving first responders, veterans, loss survivors - so seriously, just do a google scholar search for “Margaret Melissa Brown, PhPH CDC.” You’ll be amazed!
We hope to continue our survivor town hall series this year. We are super grateful to the Western Colorado Community Foundation for funding the first Town Hall speakers!
The tentative 2021 lineup, pending time and scheduling availabilty, is (a) emergency first & last responders, (b) clinician & physician loss survivors, and (c) family & friends affected by suicidal behavior of someone they love.
The results of a ground breaking study were published this year which you can read about here: PSYCHOSIS OUTSIDE THE BOX: First Person Accounts of Visions, Visual Changes, Felt Presences, Alterations of Space & Time and Strategies for Making Meaning and Addressing Distress. It’s so inspiring to see researchers who are asking people with lived experience to define their own needs and expectations. It’s been far too long that people with lived experience have been left out of these life saving conversations.